1997-12-04 Agenda & Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Memo to: Parks and Recreation Commissioners • From: Mary Saarion, Director Date: November 25, 1997 Subject: Ring Road Concepts The City Council is interested in having all Commissions updated and involved in the Ring Road Concepts. Scott Dentz is the Parks and Recreation Commission's representative on the Highway 10 Corridor Planning Group and as it relates to the Ring Road Concepts. Scott participated in the selection of a planning group for Highway 10. Housington Koegler Group Inc is being recommended to the City Council for the job. This is a project that is funded with TIF monies as it will assist in the planned economic development of the City along Highway 10 which is a designated commercial area for economic development benefitting from Highway 10 traffic and access. The Ring Road concept of taking local traffic off the highway to make it easier to get to town destinations without having to go onto Highway 10 is the basic prenus. There are several concepts or ideas on how this can occur. The models show some of these ideas. Ring road idea would like to make the community center/city hall the"heart of the community" and therefore is incorporated into the ring road loop. Likewise the areas of the shopping malls is included. The • area has been chosen for similar reasons why the placement of the pedestrian bridge was chosen - because it is a good center link to many desinations of Mounds View. While the theater project is not directly connected to the ring road concept, it would play a role in the design of a ring road - and since plans and development are at the planning stages, a plan with the ring road in mind works is timely if coordinated with the theater project. The developers of the theater project are willing to plan and design their project to accommodate a ring road concept. The ring road concept relies on easy crossing of Highway 10. Edgewood Drive, which is one of the crossings area that the ring road concept is recommending is a"funny" angle which is not advantageous. To re-align the road and add a signal light has been recommended as a safety and function advantage. To inprove the access to the community center is beneficial to the City and to improve access to the theater project is an asset to the developers. Thus the request for a signal light from MNDOT was requested and approved. There is the ring road issue among some residents as they fear an increase in traffic in their neighborhoods. There is interest in expanding the commercial tax revenue of the City and City Hall Park land along Highway 10 has a high potential tax revenue potential. The land currently is being used for the small soccer field and city sign. The soccer field is not adequate, but the space is used because it has no other use. The size is too small, it abuts a busy highway, and the lay of the land • is bumpy and unlevel. There is no sprinkling so the turf is not ideal. The space is being used, but is not of great value "parks-wise". The opportunities for city message signs have greater potential